UN, AU urge Somali leaders to end election stalemate

MOGADISHU, Somalia

African Union Commission Chief Moussa Faki Mahamat and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Somali leaders Tuesday to resume talks to end the current stalemate on the country's next elections.

“The Chairperson and the Secretary-General call on Somali leaders to resume dialogue and work in a spirit of compromise to overcome the last political hurdles to inclusive elections as soon as possible, and respect the agreement they reached on 17 September 2020,” the leaders said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

The hard-won gains in the Horn of African country in recent years are a testimony to the firm determination of the people of Somalia towards lasting peace and prosperity, following decades of instability, the AU and the UN chiefs said.

They added that their commitment to support the government and people of Somalia on their path to peace and prosperity will continue.

This comes as the country witnessed a political turmoil after President Mohamed Abdullah Mohamed’s constitutional mandate expired last week and a three-day election conference in central Somalian city of Dhusamareb ended without an agreement.

A technical committee appointed by the central government and regional leaders are currently holding a meeting in southwestern city of Baidoa to find a way out.

Opposition presidential candidates demanded the establishment of a transitional national council to hold elections.